Ophthalmic lens repair device



Ju ly 28, 1936. I c, v, ER 2,049,325

OPHTHALMIC LENS REPAIR DEVICE Filed April 19, 1934 Fig.

INVENTOR.

CLAUDE 1 J/GLER ATTORNEY.

Patented July 28, 1936 UNlTED STTES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to ophthalmic lens repair devices.

Eye glasses or ophthalmic lenses are, in gen-, eral, of two types rimless, and. framed. The 5' present invention deals with the rimless type. The rimless type may be either of two general classes-pince-nez, or with bows or temples. In any rimless type, the lens is connected to its support at the inner and/or outer edge by what is generally referred to as an end-piece. The most widely used type of end-piece comprises two very small substantially parallel straps of strong but sufficiently flexible metal to be bent slightly to ward or from each other. construction, these straps are perforated to receive a connecting screw, one perforation, being also threaded to secure the screw. The straps extend from a small bar, lug or post, having perforated ears at the opposite end for the pivotal connection of a temple or how, or for connection to a bridge end. Or at the bridge end they may i be made integral with the bridge. In assembling, the end-piece is simply slipped over the edge of the lens edge until the perforations are alined with the lens perforation previously made, and the connecting screw is inserted and turned up. Because the lens is supported horizontally from its end, by such connection, each end-piece is provided with a shoe or similar metal piece formed integrally. This shoe extends from the same post, lug or block, but in the general direction of the periphery of the lens, when assembled. In completing the assembly, this shoe is pressed firmly against the lens edge, thereby counteracting any tendency of the lens to sag or drop pivotally about the end-piece connection, and thereby throw the focal center out of position. This applies whether the temples be connected at a point near the vertical center of 4.0 the outer edge or end of the lens or as in the ful-vue type, near the vertical top. It is also correspondingly true of the connections at the inner or bridge end and it applies equally in all cases in which the screw is substituted by some 45 other device such as in the well known loxit and electro no scru, now widely used and well known.

In all connections it will be obvious that the parts must be so disposed that the respective lens 50 will be maintained in its proper position to hold the focal center in its right positionthe lens must not be tilted, or tipped, or canted one way or another, because of improper or defective connections. And, of course, similarly, the temple 55" or bow must run off on the correct line from its In one well known.

end-piece connection. It must not be cookedup or dropped down, or twisted from its proper direct line. Those are difficulties and troubles continually met in repairing broken lenses, as will, hereinafter, more fully appear, but which 5 are of no consideration in new glasses from the factory. At the factory, everything is regular and standardized and fits together correctly and accurately.

As is well known, the connection to the glass 10 lens is made by drilling a very small hole or perforation through the lens, very close to its edge-only a few millimeters inwardly therefrom. This, necessarily, weakens the glass, especially between the edge and such perforation. In case 15 of sudden outward, excessive spreading of a temple or bow, or like movement of the bridge connection, or other sudden strains, the lens, at this point, will break out. It most frequently breaks in the form of a shallow triangle, sub- 20 stantially symmetrical, with the perforation at the inward point. It, also, breaks very unsym metrically in a variety of forms.

In breaks of the above types, generally, value and use of the lens for all purposes of vision are 25 unaffected and the lens is still thoroughly usable. The difl'iculty is the question of support. The point of connection has been destroyed. There is nothing to connect the regular end-piece to. To grind out and even up the irregular edge of 30 the wall or notch of the break and then drill another or new perforation inwardly from that new edge to receive a regular normal connection would throw the temple or bridge end, respectively, out of line or position or, conversely, com- 5 pel corresponding and proportionate displacement of the particular lens. And that is true regardless of whether the break is symmetrical or unsymmetrical. As is well known in the optical business, these breaks are very frequent and 40 run into very high totals. Yet, when they occur, the general practice is, especially in the larger cities, to completely discard the lens and sell the owner a new one. And, of course, many of them are relatively expensive. The greatest loss and inconvenience to the owner is when living in a comparatively small town where the local opticians stocks are restricted. In many cases, he does not have the necessary lens and it may be several days or even more before he can get it. The owner must then do without, unless some fill gap is available. In various attempts to meet these difiiculties and make it possible to continue the use of the broken lens, not only temporarily, but as long as desired, several lens 7 to avoid all of the above disclosed objections and 10 pair device fully-and completely applicable to all right angles t hand L in e i e o 1 -1 breaks whether symmetrical or unsymmetrical, D 'tO S p so that they eXtend in the as far as such breaks may be at all possible of pp direetiohy 'p l to e repair. 7 V other and spaced from each other adistance In order to more clearly disclose the construcq l t0 the W t O t band I. Their perfo? tion, operation and use of the invention, refer-e ratiohsere 010561 t0 ba t a e the p 15 ence should be had tothe accompanying draw-- rations of Straps feet as close 945 i ing forming part of the present application, economically practical to make them." It'will be Throughout the several fi e 0f th drawing noticed that the'str'aps 2 extend from the outer like reference characters designate the same parts. e e e 0f the ved b I d e In the drawing: each end, while straps 3 extend. from the con- 20 provide a simple, efilcient, inexpensive, lens re- Fig. 1 is a plan view of the blank from which the invention is formed; e v Fig. 2 is a-plan View of the invention-the blank, for-med;-

31g. 3 is a perspective view similar to Fig. 2,

andlooking at the left of Fig. 2;

arated by the width of the band. ,Each strap is perforated to receive the usual lens securing the perforation in the regular end-piece strap 5.

from the part to which it is connected. In fact, these end-piece straps are substantially reproductions of the regular end-piece straps. The pair of straps at the center are similarly bent at cave" side' 'from approximately the longitudinal 'center. Due to the fact that all straps extend at right angles' to the ba d they will also extend radially relatively to any circle of which thecurved band may be a partial circumference. 2

While it has been stated'that straps Z are perfo- 'rated to receive a screw; it is to be understood thatyone of each pair may be; provided with a r l; shallow pocket or socket'for a" fusible plugconnection' such as' the well known loxitl or an- 4 is a view similar to'Fig. 2, but as applied, the lens having a symmetrical break; 'Fig. 5 is a View similar to Figgl, with unsym- Ih'letriealbreak; and Y Fig. 6 is a much larger fragmentary cross section, on lines-a of Fig. 4, but showing a loxit connection. r I

Throughout the drawing, the parts have been of theibandand in parallel spaced relation, sep- Eachof the central straps is extended slightly; into a head 4 having an abutment 5 of -appreci-' other well known electric-welded connection-* known as-electro-no-scru,etc;'

multiplied in size for clearness. In the various able Width? This abutment is adapted to Seat 35' views where parts have free surface contact, they and e' ngaged by th regular h 6 0f h Standhave been shown'slightly'spaced-in Fig, 6, ev ard end-P by w ch the regular te p D considerably spaced Thi again is clearbow 8 is connected, in usual and well known mane w et ff every t, eparately and indiner,lordinarily to the lens; The abutment, actu 40 ..Vidually so that it, and its relation to the other takes the Place Of a d p t s in e S m 40 parts, will be more ob i Th whole device, manner'as the lens and edge, the shoe 6 engaging j assembled and in use, is every small: and its difit in the Same manner o the a u p se? .ferent parts are not easily seen or understood Thus, the a Standard ehdtpiece' T1 used except by such enlargement and exaggeration; It for the eonheetioh- Its straps 9 are p y p a may be made, of course, of any suitable material Posed 0n Straps S0 t the perforations 70f 45 such as regularly used for such connections, or straps '3 arehhhed W the perfor 9330115 h e any other acceptable materials. Such material" Straps In a position; the regular screw will permit the device to be easily sh d or passed through a-nd'threaded into the outer strap formed as desired b the particular Optician or 't d Or, a shown in 6 e other user, with the aid of his regular tools or connection m b used- In a case, a all .50

' instruments. Yeuwhenso' shaped, it will retain sleeve I0 willsfirst be seated in t p 3. Then its form under all ordinary usag tr in d the straps9 of the regular loxit",end-piece will 1 conditions. It will be understood, that, in prac-- e positioned n heb ug H se ted.

' tice, the break'will be ground so that' the edge It will be fused in Well khoewht'manheri fi g the l will be smooth instead of lagged, as shown. locking y in t e, cover strap 9, as shown. 55 Wherenecessary or advisable, it will be shaped h regular ll i h h' dln more or less in the grinding. The showing is left 11511311 and W911 known manner to finish (Jifthe unground, as indicating the approximate outcohhectiohl The Sleeve is required in pp -v line of the two general types of b k (Sym cants invention, where a ifloxit connectionis' metrical and unsymmetrical) to which the device to be used, to take the ce o he w sof lass a is equally applicable, r around the perforation, where the loxit con- Referring to the invention in detail, the deheetiOh S u ar y'used, aswill be clear. On 1 Vice may be very readily stamped from suitable the other hand, t n t on material'and' then the blank, Fig. 1, suitably comprises asl v f its wn n m y be e shaped as in Figs. 2 and 3. It comprises a narw known manner in place f the t, r 6 l l I row band I having three pairs of parallel dthe screw, as may be understood. It is under-Q piece straps 2 and 3, one pair 2,'near each end Steed, Of Course, that the temple d-p e isnot and one pair '3, at the approximate longitudinal connected to the repair device until after the center. In the blank, of course, the parts are repa r device s been mp yj n ed 0 7 I all in the same plane. Whenshaped for use, assembled in place in the break, and secured'to s the straps 2 are'folded, at the-point'where each the lens as a repair. It should be stated that joins band I, substantially at right angles to the length of all straps 2 and 3 are substantially] the longitudinal center of the band and toward the same as'the length of the, standard endeach other so that they fall on the same side piece strap. Consequently, as shoe 6 engages the 76 abutment 5,.the outer edge of its perforated 6131 1 will reach approximately to the adjacent face of band I as in Figs. 4 and 5. Likewise, the hole or holes drilled for the connection of straps 2 will fall at just about the same distance within the lens edge as for regular standard connections of' ter'nple end-pieces;

'As -previously stated, the present invention is constructed and devised to be applied to any .break such as occurs frequently at the end-piece ation of the band, at each end, beyond the straps 2; In applying the invention to a symmetrical break at the temple or bow end of a lens, the

break will simply be rounded out and, two holes bored through the lens in position to receive the connecting means for securing the device to 'thelens; 7 Of course the break will be ground to smooth the edge of the break. And, as will be understood, the holes will be bored in such positions that, when connected, the device will assume the proper position to have the temple take its correct and normal position. This is shown in Fig. 4 where, it will be noticed, the shoe 6 is in the same position that it would be in if it were engaging the lens edge and the straps 9 were connected direct to the lens itself instead of to the repair. And this applies for all symmetrical breaks, because the breaks which are not too great for repair extend from the normal lens perforation outwardly. They do not extend inwardly beyond that. Since the side walls of such breaks run out to the edge, the connections for straps 2 may be brought back almost on a line with the connection between the temple end-piece straps, or almost as far out as the original lens perforations, thus keeping the connections, as far as possible, out of the normal line of vision. With the two pairs of straps securing the lens at two points, it will be adequately supported. Should there be any possible looseness at the temple endpiece, connection, abutment 5 and engaging shoe 6 will absolutely prevent any possible dropping or sagging.

In case of an unsymmetrical break, one type of which is shown in Fig. 5, the edge will be ground and a part of it will be shaped to receive as great a part of the device as possible, including at least the central pair of straps 3 and one end pair 2, in such position that the temple end-piece may be connected in the proper position relatively to the lens-compare Fig. 4. In that case the lens will have only one point of connection with the device instead of two. Should that become loose at all, the lens might sag or drop around it as a pivot. To prevent this, the extension tab i3 will be bent to engage the adjacent lens edge and prevent swinging in that direction. The band i from straps 2 to straps 3 will engage the lens edge in the other direction. Consequently, the lens will be firmly held even with only the one point of connection and can not swing in either direction-down or up. As a further stop, as much as possible of band I may be retained beyond straps 3 and seated on the lens edge--all as clearly shown in Fig, 5. It is hardly necessary to state that, such part of the device as can not be used because of the unsymmetrical nature of the break, is simply clipped off. Likewise, in a symmetrical break, neither tab i3 will be required and they should both be clipped off.

It is to be borne in mind that every optician will shape or fit the devices to the particular breaks that he encounters in his own particular way, both as to the symmetrical breaks and as to the unsymmetrical breaks, no two doing the same piece of work the same, probably. This device is of course equally applicable to the types where the temples or bows are connected at the far upper outer corners of the lenses.

No break which does not destroy the lens can be too wide or large for this repair device, or too unsymmetrical or irregular, because it does not bridge the break. The break surrounds, or might be said, in one sense, to bridge it. It needs only to be shaped to seat in the break so as to properly position the connected temple or bow. Consequently, it may be applied to any repairable break.

It is inexpensive, very quickly and easily applied, and after application may be left as permanent.

It is thought that the construction, operation and use of the invention will be clear from the preceding detailed description.

Many changes may be made in the construction, arrangement, and disposition of the various parts of the invention, within the scope of the appended claims, and it is meant to include all such within the present application wherein only one preferred form has been disclosed, merely by way of illustration and with no thought of in any degree limiting the invention by such disclosure.

Having described my invention what I claim and desire to protectby Letters Patent is:-

1. A lens repair device comprising, a deformable band curved longitudinally throughout its length to fit into a break in a lens edge with its convex edge inwardly of the normal lens-edge line, a pair of integrally formed parallel straps extending from opposite edges of the convex side of said band near one end thereof and spaced apart for connection to a lens, and a second pair of straps formed integrally with said band, removed longitudinally of said band from the first pair, directed oppositely relatively to the aforesaid pair of straps, said last named straps being of substantially the same length as the straps of a standard end-piece and being provided with abutments adapted to be engaged by the shoe of a standard cooperating end-piece.

2. A lens repair device comprising, a band, a pair of integrally formed parallel straps extending from opposite edges of one side of said band near one end thereof, and a second pair of integrally formed parallel straps extending in a direction oppositely to the first pair and from opposite edges of said band, said second pair being spaced longitudinally of said band relatively to said first pair, said second pair being of a length approximately equal to that of a standard cooperating end-piece strap, being provided with abutments at their outer ends adapted to engage an endpiece shoe to align the repair device, and being provided with perforations as close as practical to said band for connecting a standard endpiece.

3. A lens repair device comprising, a band, a pair of integrally formed parallel straps extending from opposite edges of one side of said band near one end thereof, a second pair of integrally formed parallel straps extending in a direction oppositely to the first pair and from opposite edges of said band, said second pair being spaced longitudinally of said band relatively to said first pair, said second pair being of a length approximately equal to that of a standard cooperating end-piece strap,

being provided with abutments at theirrouter .ends adapted .to engage an end-piece shoe toalign:

the repair device, and provided with perforations as close as practical to said band for securing an end-piece, and a lens edge engaging extension in continuation of said band beyond the'first menw tioned pairof straps.

4. A lens repair device blank'comprising, aband,.

extending in opposite directions from-opposite edges of said band at a point approximately mid-' Way between the straps near the respective ends, said end-piece connecting straps being of a length approximately equal to that of a standard cooperating end-piece strap, being provided with abutments on the outer ends for engaging and aIigning V 20 an end-piece shoe, and being provided with perforations adjacent their inner ends for attachment of an end-piece.

5. A lens repair device blank comprising, a

band, lensengaging 'strap'members extending in opposite directions from its opposite edges at a point near one end and aligned one with the other,

aligned end-piece connecting strap members extending in opposite directions from opposite edges of said band at'a point removed, longitudinally of 7 said band, from thefirst straps, said end-piece connecting straps being 'of a length 'approxi-j j mately equal tothat of a standard cooperating end-piece strap, being provided with abutments on their outer endsfor engaging and aligningan end-piece shoe, and being provided with perforations adjacent their inner ends for attaching an end-piece, and a lens edge engagingextension in continuation o fsaid band beyond thefi rstmen- V tionedjpair of straps.

cLAUpE SIGLERJ 20 

